Certification · Welding

Welding Certifications: AWS, 6G Pipe & CWI

Researched and maintained by a working journeyman. Updated 2026. Always verify current details with your state board.

In welding, certifications pay more than diplomas. Here's the straight guide to the credentials that actually raise your income — the AWS Certified Welder, the 6G pipe cert that unlocks six-figure pipe work, and the CWI inspector path.

Certification is what gets you paid

In welding, your certifications matter more than a diploma. The American Welding Society (AWS) sets the standards, and being certified to weld a specific process and position is what lets you take higher-paying work. You can be a great welder, but without the cert to prove it on paper, you're stuck at lower pay.

Certified Welder (CW)

The AWS Certified Welder credential is a performance-based test — you weld to a standard and an inspector verifies it. It proves you can actually do the work in a given process and position. Many employers require it, and it's often the difference between entry pay and certified-welder pay.

The 6G pipe certification — the big one

If there's one cert that opens the highest-paying welding work, it's 6G pipe certification. The 6G position is a fixed pipe at a 45-degree angle — you have to weld all the way around it in every position (flat, horizontal, vertical, overhead) without moving it. It's hard, and that's the point: passing 6G proves you can weld pipe in any position, which is exactly what pipeline and high-spec industrial work demands. 6G-certified pipe welders routinely earn $65,000–$120,000+.

Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) — the career upgrade

The CWI is the credential a lot of welders aim for once their body or their goals change. A Certified Welding Inspector tests and certifies welds rather than making them — quality control for manufacturing, construction, and energy. It requires the AWS CWI exam plus about 5 years of experience (or an education substitute). CWIs commonly earn $80,000–$135,000, and the work is far easier on your body than production welding.

How to stack certs for max pay

The earning path is clear: get your AWS Certified Welder credential to start, push for 6G pipe certification to access the high-paying field and pipeline work, and consider a CWI later for an $80k+ inspection career. Each cert is a concrete step up in pay — and unlike a four-year degree, you can earn them in months and start cashing in immediately.

Free Tool

Is the Trade Worth It vs College?

Compare lifetime earnings, debt, and net worth — trade vs a four-year degree, side by side.

Run the Wealth Calculator → Find scholarships →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is AWS certification?

AWS (American Welding Society) certification is the industry standard that proves you can weld to a specific standard, process, and position. It's performance-based — you weld and an inspector verifies it — and it's what unlocks higher-paying welding work.

What is 6G pipe certification and why does it pay so much?

6G is a pipe-welding test where the pipe is fixed at a 45-degree angle and you weld all the way around it in every position. Passing proves you can weld pipe in any position — the skill pipeline and high-spec industrial work demands. 6G-certified pipe welders often earn $65,000–$120,000+.

How do I become a Certified Welding Inspector (CWI)?

Pass the AWS CWI exam and meet the experience requirement (about 5 years, or an education substitute) plus vision and knowledge tests. CWIs inspect and certify welds rather than performing them, and commonly earn $80,000–$135,000.